Animals in Cape Town

Seeing African wildlife from Cape Town takes no long flights: the nearest reserve is two hours' drive away. Aquila offers three slots a day — a morning drive of five hours at 92 dollars, an afternoon one of four and a half at 107, and a sunset run of three hours at 63. The vehicles are open and the guide works as a tracker, reading the ground as you go.

The longer option is the traditional Big Five safari of seven and a half hours at 140 dollars: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo, plus lunch on site. Couples often take the horseback safari — the same seven and a half hours in the saddle, 310 dollars, with no shared group.

The marine side belongs to the city itself. Great whites are met from a steel cage — eight hours including the drive and the briefing, 270 dollars; no diving experience is required to take part. African penguins are watched on the Cape Peninsula: a private day at the colony lasts eight hours and costs 254 dollars. GetExperience lists 7 animal programmes in Cape Town, from 63 to 310 dollars; pages state the transfer, the meals and the rules for children.